"The toughest opponent you'll ever have to overcome during a spiritual battle

Recently, I pulled a quote from Dom Lorenzo Scupoli's, "Spiritual Combat," written in the late 16th and early 17th centuries so I was naturally drawn to a series of talks Fr. William Casey gave back in August of 2013. The videos popped up yesterday at random in YouTube for me. Newer Smart TV's and Blu-Ray DVD players allow streaming from YouTube right on the main television. I discovered I could pair it with my iPhone or laptop for easier control last night. This is good technology and I am grateful to Fr. Casey and Air Maria for making this freely available on the web - something more apostolates ought to consider.

Fr. Casey, who is of the Fathers of Mercy, really knows how to package things and keep you captivated. I heard him for the first time at a Call to Holiness conference in 2005 (picture at right shows him on the big screen). His preaching style can sometimes surprise you if you haven't seen it, but you would be hard pressed to drift during his talks.

In the video below, he discusses the proper context for spiritual combat. We must be aware of the environment in which we are doing this battle - one that he calls,"a spiritual, moral, and cultural minefield." He spends considerable time talking about this environment. However, the battle we must focus on the most is not with all those other people; it is within the self. The heart of his message is that we must become holy and by our example win others for Christ. Near the end, he gives a concrete list of ways we can work on this.

As one who served in the military, Fr. Casey points out the many military words and expressions found in Sacred Scripture. There are battles, combat, swords, putting on of armors and helmets, etc. He quotes some passages to make his point. The Gospel itself is a two-edge sword and he explains all of this. In his talk, he points out that terminology like, "defending the faith" is not an outdated expression, nor will it ever be, but the first fortress we must defend is the one within.

He had some interesting quotes from saints on this, like one from St. Philip Neri, which I leave for you to hear in the video. He also quoted Fr. John Hardon a number of times, and told an interesting story at the end about Padre Pio.

He cautioned also against presuming that all of this military talk is just for guys saying, "some of the most outstanding soldiers for Christ I have known have been the holy women." My own thoughts turned to those who stood beneath the Cross with Christ during his agony. He brought up other examples like St. Therese, Mother Teresa, and Mother Angelica; but, he also talked about the heroism involved in just carrying out one's duties in a holy way, and in our small corner of the world where God gives us place.

I also thought his discussion of the many "ism's" playing out in our culture today was interesting, including that of new kind of "paganism." Old heresies end up being re-packaged with perhaps some mutations and he names a few of them.

Some mistakenly think that I am against pointing out problems facing Catholics, or among the members of the Church, or even confronting people with error. That's not the case. What I have an aversion to, because I believe it to be damaging, is outward contempt for others, or mocking them and having fun at their expense, scoring figurative "points" on the most entertaining put downs. This puts an ugly face on the Church, which can be sinful under certain circumstances.

Fr. Casey demonstrates command of the subject without crossing over into that kind of contempt and disdain that can turn more people away from the faith than attract them to it. There will always be those who reject truth, but we need to make sure it isn't our growling teeth that causes them to flee. As I often say, we can only count those who come on account of our words or example, but we can never know the many we pushed away. We will have to account for that on the day of our judgment, if God finds our lack of virtue contributed in some way. This is a subject I don't think is taught enough when it is much needed to temper or moderate our knowledge of problems confronting Catholics today.

Here is the first conference of several he gave on the topic of Spiritual Combat.

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I just want to pass along a note about the Midwest Catholic Apologetics Conference which is taking place at Ss. Cyril & Methodius in Sterling Heights on January 18th. Patrick Madrid, Gary Michuta, Marcus Grodi, and Steve Ray will be speaking; and Fr. Ben Luedtke will have Mass in the morning.

I have gotten a ticket, but am not sure yet if I will be able to make it. I strongly recommend these kinds of conferences to build your knowledge about the faith. These guys will all get into a lot of Scripture which we Catholics must work on. You will find that when talking to others, being more knowledgeable about Sacred Scripture is often a key to unlock the door in conversations with others you want to win for Christ.

Msgr. Easton also opened his doors several times to the Helpers of God's Precious Infants for an early 7:30 AM Saturday Mass, ahead of a prayer vigil before an abortion clinic down the road. The picture at top, shows him giving Eucharistic Benediction after one such vigil in 2008 (more pics here), led by Bishop Daniel Flores, then an auxiliary here in Detroit.

Please pray for the repose of Msgr. Easton's soul, and for God to comfort his family and parishioners.

Here is the press release from the Archdiocese of Detroit, including arrangements:

The funeral service for Monsignor William Henry Easton, pastor of National Shrine of the Little Flower Parish in Royal Oak, will take place at Shrine at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 3. The church is located on the northeast corner of Woodward Avenue and Twelve Mile Road. A wake service will take place at the church on Thursday, January 2, from 2 p.m. until 10 p.m., with a Scripture service at 7 p.m.

Monsignor Easton died Sunday afternoon, December 29, at the age of 69. He had been hospitalized since suffering a sudden cardiac ailment and subsequent fall on December 20.

Born in Detroit in 1944 to William and Shirley Easton, he was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on June 14, 1970, after having attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth.

Monsignor Easton served as a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit for 43 years. He had been pastor of National Shrine of the Little Flower Parish since 1996. During his pastorate, in 1998, the Shrine of the Little Flower Church was given National Shrine designation by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. It is one of only five churches in the United States with such a designation. With a membership of more than 3,500 families, Shrine also is among the largest parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit

Monsignor Easton began his priestly ministry at St. Mary Parish in Royal Oak, serving as associate pastor from 1970 until 1972, then as co-pastor from 1972 until 1975. He was made pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Pontiac in 1975, and served there until 1989. During that assignment he was made administrator of Shrine of St. Joseph Parish in Pontiac in 1986, and became a member of the College of Consultors – an advisory group to the archbishop of Detroit – in 1987. He also became director of formation at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit in 1988.

In 1987, then-Father Easton also played a key role in Pope John Paul II’s visit to Detroit as he served as the overall site director, overseeing the Pope’s Mass at the Pontiac Silverdome.

He was reassigned in 1989 to become vice rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary, where he served until becoming pastor of Shrine of the Little Flower Parish in 1996. While at the seminary, in 1990, Father Easton was named an Honorary Prelate of the Church by Pope John Paul II – giving him the title of Monsignor.

From 2009 until 2012, Monsignor Easton had served as chairman of the Presbyteral Council, a board of priests that advises the archbishop. He also had served as coordinator of archdiocesan celebrations for consecrations of new bishops; on the board of trustees at Madonna University in Livonia; on the board of trustees for the Children’s Trust Fund of the State of Michigan; and as chaplain to the Royal Oak Police Department.

Members of the news media: We appreciate coverage of Monsignor Easton’s passing and his legacy. Due to the solemnity of the occasion and to be sensitive to the family’s privacy, we respectfully ask reporters, camera operators, and photographers to heed all instructions from personnel of the National Shrine of the Little Flower and the Archdiocese of Detroit in regards to coverage of the funeral services. Due to a large anticipated number of attendees, parking and camera positioning may be limited during the funeral service. If you have questions about coverage prior to the services, please call the Archdiocese Public Relations Office at 313-237-5943.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Here are some pictures and video taken with my iPhone at Midnight Mass at Assumption Grotto this year. I did not take my main camera because with the windows blackened by night, it is not as beautiful as it will be during daylight. I wanted to take in the Mass without too much concern over getting pictures, as I'm sure many of you will appreciate. God-willing, I will have more in the coming days when I take my main camera back with me. Pictures may be shared by other bloggers, with a link back to this post.

These are private Masses after Midnight Mass, as explained below with the video of the same.

These video clips are not the best quality, but give you an idea of what took place, and how the church is decorated. Feel free to share. These are embeddable through YouTube.

With Fr. Perrone, associate Fr. Bustamante, and the Fathers of the Order of the Holy Cross who assist, there are enough priests to cover the Masses. But, priests are allowed to celebrate more Masses on Christmas and the priests use those to offer additional Masses. Some of these happen at the conclusion of the Solemn High Mass at Midnight. Below you see Fr. Perrone celebrating at the Altar of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Fr. Bustamante celebrating at the Sacred Heart Altar. Both are private Masses using the 1962 Missal. You would never know, by the silence, that roughly 40 people remained prayerfully in the pews, scattered about the Church, but mostly congregating in the pews near the two altars. These Masses took place around 2:00 AM.

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Tuesday, December 24, 2013

I leave you this evening, with a beautiful Polish Christmas Carol, "Wśród nocnej ciszy"
("In the Stillness of the Night,") sung by Polish opera great, Teresa Zylis-Gara, with the Poznan Boys Choir in the background. Just past 3:40, she will blow your socks off. Just make sure you have good speakers. No scenery, just sound.

Sunday, December 22, 2013

In talking to one of the ORC priests at Assumption Grotto recently, I was looking for some good resources on a particular topic when he asked me if I had ever read, "Spiritual Combat." I must have heard of it, but there are so many mistaken ideas about fighting for the Church, that I probably dismissed it. True combat is not something Catholics do with others; it's what they do within themselves. The spiritual battle is within, and it's against the self*, and against principalities and powers (read Ephesians 6:10-20).

It was written in the late 1500's by Dom Lorenzo Scupoli. St. Francis de Sales called it the, "golden book" and carried a copy for 18 years.

Right out the gate in chapter 1 this book grabs you in an eye-opening way. That quote at top, snagged with my S-Pen on the Galaxy Note 10.1, is from Chapter 1. I'm now in Chapter 5 and it is an addicting read. This is one of those things you can easily limit to just one or a handful of chapters per day. In fact, it's probably best read that way so things an be absorbed.

If you are looking for something that will have you commiserating about all that is going wrong, or that will have you looking at everyone else's faults and imperfections, don't get this book. If you want something that will help you grow in holiness, and help you to weather storms that come from members within the Church and from those outside of it, this should be in your reading list.

I don't know if the Grotto Gift Shop has it, so ask. Otherwise, you can get it at places like Amazon in formats ranging from Kindle to paperback from various publishers.

There are versions of it that can be read online. Try the links at the bottom of the page for Lorenzo Scupoli on wikipedia. But, this is a big book that is probably best read in a comfortable way.

*Edited to include a note about the battle within the self to avoid leading others to believe everything bad or difficult comes from the Evil One. God permits Satan to tempt us, but often times, the difficulty comes from within our ourselves. Concupiscence leads us to gravitate to lower things in life and to take lower paths amidst trials. In that sense, the Angel of Darkness requires no assistance as we yield to our own fallen nature.

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Saturday, December 21, 2013

Amidst all the news stirring anxieties about bishop shuffling and other Church affairs, we have to remember that if tomorrow we were to die and stand before God, he wouldn't be as interested in what we knew about the latest bishop changes; but, he might be interested in whether we crossed any lines talking about such things. This is one of those inconvenient aspects of our faith that we dismiss at our own peril.

Speculation is that bishops are being changed around in the curia because of, "A" when it may be because of "B" or "C" and anything else through "Z." With what is publicly available, and not coming from unnamed sources (gossip), even if they be from other bishops; or, well known Vatican journalists; or, popular online, radio, or TV commentators; or, the parish priest -- there is insufficient public evidence to judge the cause of the changes. Is it a crackdown on devotees of the traditional Latin Mass or on "conservatives" as some claim or imply? Or, is it a matter of lessening influence of one bishop with many hats in the curia to make room for more broad influence by others? Is it a divide in the Latin rite over certain ideologies? Perhaps it is one of these or none of these. Or, it could be any number of other reasons yet unknown to us. We simply do not know and we can't treat speculation as fact. When contempt and disdain for members of the hierarchy arise based on speculation, it flies in the face of holiness and virtue.

Fr. John A. Hardon, SJ, in talking about imprudence, teaches that sins against prudence are either by defect, or excess. Here, we are interested in the first:

Sins by defect against prudence are: rashness, which acts before due consideration has been given; thoughtlessness, which neglects to take the necessary circumstances into account; and negligence, which does not give the mind sufficient time for mature deliberation.

"Rash judgment begins when we go beyond the evidence available…"

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in paragraph 2477, that rash judgment happens if one, "even tacitly, assumes as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor." Fr. Hardon defines rash judgment this way (emphasis mine in bold):

Unquestioning conviction about another person's bad conduct without adequate grounds for the judgment. The sinfulness of rash judgment lies in the hasty imprudence with which the critical appraisal is made and in the loss of reputation that a peson suffers in the eyes of the one who judges adversely.

So, if we allow, within ourselves, another person's reputation to suffer through rash judgment, it can be sinful. Fr. Hardon says that rash judgment begins, "at the point where we go beyond the evidence available to judge the culpability of the action, attribute evil motives, and decide against the character or moral integrity of the person whose conduct we observed."

Fr. Hardon distinguishes from other kinds of judgments that we need to make. If I see someone walk into a store, grab a coat, and run out, it would be absurd to suggest rash judgment takes place when I judge him to be committing an act of theft. Fr. Hardon writes: "A sudden outburst of anger that we witness, or a gross failure in justice, or a glaring exhibition of vanity are objectively wrong, and we cannot reasonably deny the obvious." Now, I would imagine some readers will say that what they are witnessing with the shuffling of bishops and in other Church affairs in the news, there is a "gross failure in justice" going on. I think Fr. Hardon might beg to differ. There is public information and non-public information. Anything that comes from unnamed sources and makes it's way into the public sphere, is not the public information I'm speaking of. That would be second-hand information. When second-hand information comes from another bishop, it doesn't make it first-hand information, especially if they are not privy to *all* of the facts. What Fr. Hardon says next is very important in our discernment about judging any situation (emphasis in original):

Hasty imprudence in passing judgment on others is an innate tendency of fallen human nature. We are prone to generalize, without adequate premises, where others are concerned and draw sweeping conclusions about their weaknesses and limitations. It is just the opposite where we are concerned, where the tendency is to excuse and minimize, often in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

He then goes on to quote Matthew 7:3-5 saying Christ distinguished between these two tendencies when he talked about removing the log from our own eye before trying to remove the splinter from the eye of our brother. It used to be that you would hear people act on this kind of virtue, to minimize and excuse away the bad behavior of others (I'm not suggesting the behavior of Pope Francis or any other member of the hierarchy is bad; rather I'm suggesting people can act on what they presume to be bad behavior, which is just as bad or worse). These days, rash judgment seems to be the rule. Fr. Hardon then says something very important, "...Even if what he has done is conclusive proof of culpability or of defective character, charity forbids our despising a person or, what comes to the same thing, thinking ourselves superior because we are not like him." Read Fr. Hardon's entire discussion on calumny, detraction and rash judgment at the Real Presence website. You can find more of Fr. Hardon's teachings online in the archives at RealPresence.org

What do we do?

When anxiety hits over Church affairs, just go to an Adoration Chapel and hand it all over to Jesus, who is always aware of what is happening. He also knows how these things play out in the long run. Pray a Rosary and hand it over to Mary. Things may not be resolved the way we would like, but who can claim to know God's plan and how it will affect things long after we have gone before the Just Judge?

Some, when they pray, want specific things to happen. This is like saying, "Your will Lord, as long as it is in harmony with mine." I have always used that point when speaking of those who dissent openly from Church teaching. Faithful Catholics pray as Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane when he asked that the Chalice be taken from him, if it was his Father's will. The Apostles couldn't understand it and they were scandalized. We should pray, not that our will be done, but that God's will be done, in all matters. Then, leave it to God!

We risk offending God by falling into rash judgment and participating in calumny if we get too involved with affairs in the Church over which we have no control. But, we remain blameless if we simply put it all in God's hands and go about our day pursuing holiness in very ordinary ways. We can offer our anxiety and sufferings up for the Church.

That's what Catholics do.

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Friday, December 20, 2013

And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care if we perish?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” (Mark 4:37-40)

It's not that storms happen; it's how we respond to them!

Storms are a part of life. In the Old Testament, we see examples of God's people weathering storms with faith -- from Moses who weathered the storm of angry Egyptians on chariots by parting the Red Sea before faithless refugees (Exodus 14) to the innocent Job who passed through the storm of boils covering his body, and the greater storm of friends who insisted it was because Job offended God. What separates the faithful from the faithless, is that grace of spirit engendered so well in the simple prayer of St. Teresa of Avila:

Let nothing disturb you,

Let nothing frighten you,

All things are passing away:

God never changes.

Patience obtains all things

Whoever has God lacks nothing;

God alone suffices.

A response to any storm in a way that is filled with anxiety, fear and disquiet, is a response that is lacking faith. This doesn't mean we should try to be superhuman and are wrong for feeling anxious or fearful. What matters is whether or not we dwell in that anxiety or fear in a way that is harmful to the spiritual life. Faith is a grace, but it is a grace on which we must act with our free will. Just as idleness can lead to evil (Sirach 33:27) and we are warned to avoid idleness in the New Testament (2 Thessalonians 3:6,11), dwelling in what what is wrong -- real or perceived -- is just as damaging.

Storms in the Church

My motto for most anything that I find unsettling, is: What God doesn't will, He permits. Nothing happens without His willing it to happen, or His permitting it to happen for reasons known only to Him.

If you follow current events in the Church, undoubtedly you will have noticed that there are many storms around the cyber-diocese, with some voicing their concerns with due respect for the Church leaders they speak of; and, others who put their disdain and contempt on display without reserve. It might be wise to study what Thomas Aquinas says about fraternal correction - not just the part that says the faithful may correct a prelate in certain circumstances, but the whole thing… several times and meditatively (here is a "how to" guide on reading the Summa with the way it is structured).

A recent storm

Early this week, when a particular news story caused yet another storm online amongst Catholics, I decided to turn to a voice that has always been steady in any storm. I turned to that source the way a child runs to the security of a loving parent when alarmed by all the noise. I was not disappointed. There, at the blog of Dom Mark, at Vultus Christi, was precisely what my soul searched for, and found. It begins:

Some are called not to much speaking, nor to conversations about the Church, but, rather, to a deep silenceand to a life hidden in the heart of the Church, far from wrangling tongues, from speculations, and discord. These souls Our Lord calls to be silent so as to be like Him in the Sacrament of His Love. These He calls to hide themselves even as He is hidden in His tabernacles.

As you read the rest of the post, you see that Dom Mark is talking about all of this in the context of monastic life. As I read it, I considered how much correspondence he may have received that day, given the intensity of angst amongst faithful Catholics. Maybe he received no correspondence and saw no reactions online, but I just sensed that he knew, and was fully aware, of the confusion and turmoil experienced by many. But, in his spiritual maturity, he remained calm in the storm, resting comfortably in Our Eucharistic Lord. Amidst the waves of wrangling tongues, speculations and discord about the Church, he rose above the controversy, becoming humble and lowly before God.

I pondered whether this was simply the response required of monastics. Yet, I knew from my experience with Fr. Perrone and with the fathers of the Holy Cross who assist us at Assumption Grotto, that they often counsel us likewise during such times. I have found them also steady in such storms, letting nothing disturb them.

What Dom Mark says in that post is not just for monastics; there should be a little "monastic" in all of us at times.

A closer look at storms and the Vultus Christi blog

BBC/2006

Storms can cause us to do one of two things: Panic or remain steady and focused. Only one of those responses is rooted in faith. God didn't give us holy priests, monks, friars, and consecrated, just so they could be the fuel that runs the engine of grace in the Church; they were given to us to look up to during the storms we encounter. They, like Christ in the boat being tossed in the waves, show us how to respond. Perhaps they cannot quell a raging storm, but they can teach us how survive with our faith intact.

I have found Dom Mark's blog, Vultus Christi, to be one of the more spiritually mature blogs out there. For those caving to that part of their lower nature that gravitates to controversy and commiseration over the faults and imperfections of others, or what some member of the hierarchy is doing, you'll have to look elsewhere. If you are looking to build your spiritual life, and your relationship with Jesus Christ, you will have to spend less time on Church affairs and controversies, and instead dig deeper into learning about the faith.

The spiritual life, like faith itself, is not built on academic study. For some it is helpful, but it's only one possible means of many. Striving for holiness every minute of every day does not depend on our dwelling on all that is going on; it's actually detrimental and corrosive to the spiritual life. By putting that time into more wholesome spiritual reading and prayer, you may not be able to talk about the controversy of the day with anyone; but you will build the tools necessary for serious evangelization. That is the food your friends and loved ones need and when you spend your time filling your spiritual tool box, your guardian angel will let you know when to pull out a given tool. You can't win someone for Christ by merely talking about the controversy of the day. That's spiritual junk food. Start with foundations and build from there.

If said this before, that if you find yourself persistently disquieted by something you are reading or seeing online, on TV, or in reading material, then set it aside for a while for higher things. Find sources that do not cause this anxiety and disquiet. I think Vultus Christi should be bookmarked and read by any serious Catholic looking to grow in holiness.

But doesn't someone need to talk about all these problems?

Lest anyone think I am suggesting there is no need for discussion about matters controversial, especially current events, that is not the case. Those best suited for talking about these things are souls who are not in a state of disquiet or with visible anxiety over the matter. Read those people if you are trying to understand something and avoid the panicky-polemicals. It may also be necessary to set aside the controversy for a while and see where the dust settles. With time, God may help us to see more clearly. The worst person to be at the helm of any ship is a panic-stricken sailor. He has the potential to needlessly instill panic in everyone else around him. His thinking gets clouded by the anxiety permeating his soul and his ability to reason and rationalize is muted. And, some simply aren't interested in winning others with reason; they just want a good fight.

St. Jerome

If St. Jerome wanted us to imitate anything about his life, it would not be his irascible side; rather, he would want us to devote more time to reading and studying Sacred Scripture. St. Nicholas would want to be remembered more for the way he wore Christ on his sleeve on a daily basis, at a time of deadly persecution, than for clocking the heretic, Arius. Sadly, with all the blogposts I saw on the feast day of St. Nicholas, "the punch" is what dominated, the discussion, almost exclusively. Did we take time to learn anything else about the life of St. Nicholas? He is the patron saint of sailors. They had an affection for him and I don't think it was because he punched Arius.

Concupiscence, along with the Angel of Darkness, will always make us gravitate to controversy and complaint. Yet, venting and commiseration about what is going wrong are not virtues; they are imperfections. More can be accomplished with a Holy Hour for those who are the target of our concern and it is a great act of love -- to beg mercy and conversion - which also tempers anger over what they do. I myself need to take this advice, often given by our priests at Assumption Grotto, especially when there is something unsettling happening. We don't use the Holy Hour to tell God what to do; we simply lay the concern before Him and let go of it. He could send a legion of angels in the blink of an eye to change it, but only He knows how something fits in to a much larger plan (Romans 5:20). God is aware of the problems that trouble us and those problems will be here tomorrow even if we die today. So, look for ways to build the Body of Christ rather than take jabs at Her members.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

I encountered this gem of a passage by St. John of the Cross below in Chapter 7 in Book Two of the Ascent of Mt Carmel. This would make a great examination of conscience: Do we love God for His sake, or for what He can give us? When we speak to Him, is it always in the form of petition; or, do we pray simply to show our love for Him?

If anyone wishes to follow my way, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his soul will lose it, but whoever loses it for me will gain it [Mk. 8:34-35].

5. Oh, who can make this counsel of our Savior on self-denial understandable, and practicable, and attractive, that spiritual persons might become aware of the difference between the method many of them think is good and the one that ought to be used in traveling this road! They are of the opinion that any kind of withdrawal from the world, or reformation of life, suffices. Some are content with a certain degree of virtue, perseverance in prayer, and mortification, but never achieve the nakedness, poverty, selflessness, or spiritual purity (which are all the same) about which the Lord counsels us here. For they still feed and clothe their natural selves with spiritual feelings and consolations instead of divesting and denying themselves of these for God's sake. They think denial of self in worldly matters is sufficient without annihilation and purification in the spiritual domain. It happens that, when some of this solid, perfect food (the annihilation of all sweetness in God - the pure spiritual cross and nakedness of Christ's poverty of spirit) is offered them in dryness, distaste, and trial, they run from it as from death and wander about in search only of sweetness and delightful communications from God. Such an attitude is not the hallmark of self-denial and nakedness of spirit but the indication of a spiritual sweet tooth. Through this kind of conduct they become, spiritually speaking, enemies of the cross of Christ [Phil. 3:18].

A genuine spirit seeks rather the distasteful in God than the delectable, leans more toward suffering than toward consolation, more toward going without everything for God than toward possession, and toward dryness and affliction than toward sweet consolation. It knows that this is the significance of following Christ and denying self, that the other method is perhaps a seeking of self in God - something entirely contrary to love. Seeking oneself in God is the same as looking for the caresses and consolations of God. Seeking God in oneself entails not only the desire to do without these consolations for God's sake, but also the inclination to choose for love of Christ all that is most distasteful whether in God or in the world; and this is what loving God means.

Sources:

St. John of the Cross (1991-12-14). The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross (Kindle Locations 3154-3170). ICS Publications. Kindle Edition.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Fr. Wolfgang and Fr. Titus will be preaching an Advent Day of Recollection on December 15th from 2-5:00 p.m. in the lounge.Grotto-goers love the Days of Recollection offered by the priests of fathers of the Holy Cross. That pic was from some years ago and, as you can see, the lounge is packed.
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Andrew sends out occasional emails with some thoughts. His email concerning Pope Francis being named, "Person of the Year," by Time Magazine, struck a chord with me. I asked him if the text could be used for a guest post. With Andrew's permission, is that email below this line.

Dear friends,

An extraordinary (not so extraordinary when you consider other winners like Hitler and Stalin) accolade for Pope Francis, for Time Magazine to name him the Person of the Year.

He is the third pope in church history to receive the honour, the other two being Pope John XXIII in 1962, and Pope John Paul II in 1994, interestingly both these popes being canonized by Pope Francis next April in the same ceremony.

But what is so remarkable here is that this has happened to Pope Francis, in less than twelve months on the job, a remarkable index on how a Vicar of Christ has had such an impact not just on Catholics, but on people of all ideological persuasions, in such a short time. As they said today, this man has brought the papacy "out of the palace, and on to the streets".

Of course, part of the adulation for Jorge Bergoglio is that he is perceived as someone who has thrown off the shackles of the past, and wants to make the Catholic Church more like other institutions in the wider society.

I believe a case can be made against this thesis, but I am not overly worried about this perception either.

For starters, Pope Francis is a boon to evangelization. It has not been for some time that Catholics have been able to hold on to something, seen as so inspiring, particular after the abuse crisis which has lost the Church major credibility.

Even if the likes of Jane Fonda and Elton John approve of this pope, perhaps in the long run that will be to our advantage. It gives a Vicar of Christ, a captive audience.

And when it is time to say really tough things, he will be listened to.

When Our Lord started his public ministry, many of his new followers had a false conception of Jesus. They believed him to be an earthly Messiah who would liberate them from Roman occupation. Even his apostles believed that, until He told them that "the kingdom of God is within you". And what about in St John's Gospel Chapter 6, when He gave His discourse on the Bread of Life. Many people who heard this found this teaching about eating His Body and drinking His Blood very challenging, and "they no longer walked with Him".

Jesus then said to Simon Peter, "Will you also depart from me?" He answered, "Master, where shall we go? You have the words of everlasting life".

The same will happen with Pope Francis. Many of his new admirers will no longer walk with him, (when confronted with the reality of Catholic teaching and practice) but some may have received the grace of conversion, when considering a man who in so many of his actions, is so Christ like.

On this great Carmelite feast of St. John of the Cross, Doctor of Mystical Theology, I would like to share something from The Ascent of Mount Carmel, Book Two. This is paragraph 4.

4. St. Paul also meant this in his assertion: Accedentem ad Deum oportet credere quod est (Whoever would approach union with God should believe in His existence) [Heb. 11:6]. This is like saying: Those who want to reach union with God should advance neither by understanding, nor by the support of their own experience, nor by feeling or imagination, but by belief in God's being. For God's being cannot be grasped by the intellect, appetite, imagination, or any other sense; nor can it be known in this life. The most that can be felt and tasted of God in this life is infinitely distant from God and the pure possession of him. Isaiah and St. Paul affirm: Nec oculus videt, nec auris audivit, nec in cor hominis ascendit quae praeparavit Deus iis qui diligunt illum (No eye has ever seen, nor ear heard, nor has the human heart or thought ever grasped what God has prepared for those who love him) [Is. 64:4; 1 Cor. 2:9].

Now souls in this life may be seeking to unite themselves perfectly through grace with what they will be united to in the next through glory (with what St. Paul says eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor the human, fleshly heart grasped). But, manifestly, the perfect union in this life through grace and love demands that they live in darkness to all the objects of sight, hearing, and imagination, and to everything comprehensible to the heart, which signifies the soul.

Those are decidedly hindered, then, from attainment of this high state of union with God who are attached to any understanding, feeling, imagining, opinion, desire, or way of their own, or to any other of their works or affairs, and know not how to detach and denude themselves of these impediments. Their goal, as we said, transcends all of this, even the loftiest object that can be known or experienced. Consequently they must pass beyond everything to unknowing.

St. John of the Cross (1991-12-14). The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross (Kindle Locations 2971-2984). ICS Publications. Kindle Edition.

Understanding everything there is to understand, experiencing everything there is to experience, and imagining everything there is to imagine, doesn't lead us to union with God. Rather, it is pure faith in God that leads to union.

Faith shouldn't be put on hold until understanding comes because faith seeks understanding, and doesn't require it in order to continue in faith.

Sometimes we equate experience with faith - something we have to feel. This is a very big misunderstanding and one that can lead us to use God for our own consolations. Consolations are not an ends, but a means to encourage a soul that is weak or in need. This is nothing to be ashamed of as even Jesus was consoled and strengthened by the angel in the Garden of Gethsemane. However, we must prepare for those times when God will not send consolations to see if we will respond out of pure love, rather than for what we can get out of Him.

We sometimes make the mistake of responding to God out of what we feel. We might limit going to Mass or Confession when it feels good to go; we may limit spiritual reading and reading of Scripture to when it feels good. We may only help others when there is nothing else in the way for us to sacrifice at that time.

Love God for His sake, not for anything He can give you in return.

I wish all of my brothers and sisters in Carmel a very blessed feast day.

I have mentioned this before, but would like to draw attention again, to a book written by the president of our Carmelite community, Tom Reid, OCDS. I wrote about St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross on the Beatitudesin this post.

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Friday, December 6, 2013

This Sunday, December 8th, Fr. Eduard Perrone will direct the Assumption Grotto Choir and Orchestra in Mozart's Coronation Mass in the context of a Solemn High Mass.

In the ordinary form of the Mass, the USCCB has shifted observance of Immaculate Conception this year to December 9th (and they state it is not a holy day of obligation, but bishops can deviate, so check your diocesan website).

In the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite Immaculate Conception is a 1st class feast that trumps the Sunday (which gets a commemoration). In the EF we don’t transfer Immaculate Conception to Monday (which would be a ferial day in Advent).

Taking advantage of this feast day falling on a Sunday in the old calendar, Fr. Perrone decided to have an orchestral Mass, which he will conduct at the usual time slot for the TLM - 9:30 AM. My understanding is that it will be a Solemn High Mass, celebrated by a guest priest from out-of-town.

To boot, the Grotto Knights are holding a pancake breakfast after the 9:30 and Noon Masses.

Painting at top: The Immaculate Conception of the Venerable Ones, or of Soult - Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617–1682)
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Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Some years ago I photographed an Advent Rorate Mass and the priest celebrating gave me an explanation here.

Sometimes we get one at Assumption Grotto during Advent when the priests of Holy Cross celebrate it. Every Advent I get emails and people asking me in passing if we will have one this year. It probably wouldn't hurt to let them know you are interested, then offer to help out with all those candles. Altar boys are needed, as well.

Contrary to what everyone may think, I'm not the kid sister whom everyone can send forth to secure something from the good fathers. I also know from experience that Fr. Perrone and the priests of the Holy Cross are willing to listen to requests and try to accommodate, if it is possible. Some years ago we tried to get a Rorate Mass using the 1962 Missal, but the only day that was open for one of the priests happen to involve a class that could not be substituted with, if I recall, a votive Mass.

I have never seen one done in the very early morning at Grotto, as they were traditionally done, just because it doesn't work out well for a commuter parish. I've also never seen Fr. Perrone do one at his 7:30 a.m. TLM (and it's almost light out by then). This was a custom that began with the German priests. So, in the past they have always been offered at the 7:00 PM Mass on a Tuesday or Thursday, which are the days they are scheduled, and happens to be the days Fr. Perrone has scheduled the ordinary form of the Mass in Latin (those on M-W-F at 7:00 PM are all TLM low Masses).

So, it is doubtful we would have this Mass in the extraordinary form, unless people were to petition Fr. Perrone to shuffle either the priests or the form of the Mass around. Here again, it doesn't hurt for people who are interested to let Fr. Perrone and the ORC priests know - now. If there are enough requests and people offering to help out, perhaps one could be available in the extraordinary form, maybe even at a special early-bird ahead of the 7:30 AM Mass, or in the evening.

If one is planned, and you become aware of it, please let me know. I've had it happen before where I went to an evening Mass in Advent and walked in on an unannounced Rorate Mass that was pulled together at the last minute. That's not the best way to make it happen.

I would love to be able to re-take this shot below now that the table altar has been removed, but I know from past experience, it will take a lot more people committed to showing up and helping out to make it happen, from altar boys, to people placing candles out, and even offering donations for a few boxes of candles (which must be white). And, it is also subject to availability of the priests of the Holy Cross.

In the end, it simply may not be possible, but at least I have made my post somewhat answering the question in anticipation of more questions in addition to those already received.

As an aside, the ORC priests will hold a Day of Recollection at Assumption Grotto, if memory serves, on December 15th, following the Noon Mass until around 5:00 PM. More info on that to follow.

A note about the blog and social media

There's really so much out there on Catholic portals, blogs, and websites, it's impossible to keep up with especially here at the blog. If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you are getting many more reading options than you will here on the blog. I don't get into Google+ as much as I would like, but I will look expanding that. In social media, it takes one or two clicks to just pass something along. In Facebook, I will not be using the public option as much since I learned that those commenting may apparently have my posts showing up in the feeds of their friends. If you want to see what I'm posting in Facebook, you will have to send me a friend request. The subscribe option only works for public updates. Let me know with a message that you are are a blog follower or parishioner of Assumption Grotto.

In case it is not obvious, when I share something - be it here or in social media, it is not an endorsement of anything written or even the media where it appears.

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The Sisters of the Holy Cross at Grotto offer beautiful hand-painted crucifixes. If you are local you can look at the many options at the Grotto gift shop. Or, click here to see more and for contact information. I've added this pic to my side bar. Clicking on the pic will take you to that same link.

If at any point that link doesn't work, let me know.

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Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron

St. John of the Cross

Dark Night of the Soul (2.2:3)...

"...the devil causes many to believe in vain visionsand false prophecies; and strives to make them presumethat God and the saints are speaking with them; and they often trust their own fancy. And the devil is also accustomed, in this state, to fill them with presumption and pride, so that they become attracted by vanity and arrogance, and allow themselves to be seen engaging in outward acts which appear holy, such as raptures and other manifestations. Thus they become bold with God, and lose holy fear, which is the key and the custodian of all the virtues; and in some of these souls so many are the falsehoods and deceits which tend to multiply, and so inveterate do they grow, that it is very doubtful if such souls will return to the pure road of virtue and true spirituality."